Probation services officers

Ministry of Justice; Wrexham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government probation service in Wrexham is seeking dedicated individuals to manage probation cases, ensuring public safety and supporting offenders. The role includes risk assessment, supervision, and conducting home visits. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and be empathetic, organized, and patient. A minimum of 5 GCSEs including English and Maths is required. The position offers a starting salary of £26,475 with opportunities for progression and full benefits including flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Annual Leave – 25 days increasing to 30 days after 5 years

Pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme

Extensive training and development opportunities

Flexible Working arrangements

Family Friendly policies

Qualifications

• Experience in supporting people who have experienced social and/or personal difficulties.
• Ability to demonstrate pro-social modelling skills.
• Understanding of risk management and assessment.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and manage risk of those on probation.
• Liaise with courts and agencies for information and advice.
• Conduct home or alternate location visits as required.

Skills

Empathy

Organization

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Minimum 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above, including English and Maths

Job description

Please note that all salaries are as advertised and are non‑negotiable, for new starters joining the service you will commence at the bottom of the scale. If you have any concerns regarding the salary range, please ensure these are raised during the interview process. Helping to keep the public safe. Giving people the chance to turn their lives around. Building a rewarding professional career. There are many reasons to join the Probation Service. What will yours be? We're looking for empathetic, patient, and organised people to join us in this varied role, which offers the chance to make a difference, gain new skills and build a rewarding career within the Probation Service. The job holder will undertake the full range of work with people on probation before and after sentence. This will include assessment, sentence implementation, offender management and producing reports. The job holder will provide case management support to a full range of people on probation utilising service procedures and practice directions that underpin professional judgement.

Risk Management and Liaison

• Liaising, providing information and advice to criminal courts, criminal justice agencies and other partner agencies.
• Supervise and manage risk of those people on probation subject to community sentences, during and after custodial sentences.
• Work with other agencies and groups to prevent crime and meet the needs of victims and people on probation.

In line with PS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do. The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position. If relevant to the role, some out of hours working may be required (i.e. Courts, Approved Premises, programmes, evening reporting etc.).

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

• To undertake the full range of offender management tasks with people on probation assessed as low or medium risk of harm and to support the Probation Officer grade in high risk cases.
• When providing case manager support, to contribute to the delivery of the Risk Management plan and report significant changes relating to risk of harm and/or of reoffending or any non‑compliance within agreed enforcement procedures.
• To use computer based systems to produce, update and maintain records and other documentation within agreed timescales.
• Ensure effective referrals to services and facilities and communicate with offender management staff, interventions staff, service providers and external agencies to review progress and associated risks.
• To undertake prison, home or alternate location visits as required in accordance with service procedures and policies.
• To undertake work in the court setting, including the completion of appropriate reports on cases and prosecution of breaches.
• To provide cover within teams as required.
• To deliver and co‑lead accredited programmes commensurate with grade.
• To conduct mandatory alcohol and drug tests as required, and to follow prescribed medication procedures.
• Carry out safeguarding children duties in accordance with the PS statutory responsibilities and agency policies.
• Demonstrate pro‑social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro‑social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti‑social behaviour and attitudes.
• To work within the aims and values of PS and HMPPS.

Successful applicants may be based a wide variety of office, court, team, or prison locations within the Probation Service region. Allocations will be made according to business need.

Recruitment Process

To apply to this role you will be required to complete a short application form and detail responses to Civil Service Behaviours and Experience based question. As part of this application, you will also be required to sit the Civil Service Judgement test (CSJT). The CSJT is a two‑part test which looks at your ability to make decisions in relation to specific civil service behaviours. The CSJT is stage one of your application process and you will have the option to complete a practice test immediately before taking the test, to give you an insight of what to expect before you start. If you would like more information relating to reasonable adjustments and the CSJT, please see more details here. You can also watch a short video here. You can find out more about the CSJT and complete a practice test now here. If you are successful in passing this stage, your full application will be sifted once the application deadline has closed. You will then receive further instruction on the progress and outcome of your application. If you are successful in passing both the CSJT and application sift process you will be invited to interview.

Behaviour, Ability and Technical Requirements

Behaviour

• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Ability

• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing, Experience of helping and/or supporting people who have experienced a range of social and/or personal difficulties.
• Experience in planning and coordinating work.
• Experience of working with groups or individuals in order to motivate and change behaviour.
• An understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity good practice.
• Understanding of factors related to offending e.g. substance misuse, accommodation issues and being able to emphasise constructively with a range of people.
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles of case management.
• Knowledge and understanding of risk management/risk assessment as pertaining to offenders and the impact on victims of crime.
• Understanding of Health & Safety legislation in the workplace.
• Knowledge and understanding of the work of the Criminal Justice System and Probation Service.
• Knowledge of the aims and objectives of the Probation Service.

Technical

• The ability to evidence high level numeracy and literacy skills required to read, understand and interpret policies and the ability to write reports and correspondence for internal and external stakeholders or minimum 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above, including English, Maths.
• You don't need a degree for this role. We’re much more interested in your personal qualities. Ideally with experience of working with people who have social or personal difficulties, you'll be empathetic, patient and resilient. Good writing skills are also essential. You must be able to produce clear and accurate reports to tight deadlines.

Additional Information and Benefits

By managing offenders in the community, the Probation Service protects the public from the effect of crime and gives offenders the chance to turn their lives around. Join us and you'll be part of a supportive team that thrives on sharing knowledge and expertise.

Salary and Progression

If you are successful in the recruitment process to join the Probation Service, your starting salary will be £26,475. The Probation Service offers the opportunity for annual pay progression through a Competency Based Framework (CBF), which, if eligible, will see your pay increase.

Benefits

• Annual Leave – 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays.
• Pension – The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF).
• Training – The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Flexible Working – The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows, with a blend of working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home.
• Family Friendly policies – opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Flexible benefits – voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.

Equal Opportunities

In line with the Civil Service Code, equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the work of the Probation Service. All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.

Support for Applicants with Disabilities

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace.

Contact for Queries and Complaints

Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order:
• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email [e-mail]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]);
• To the Civil‑Service Commission (details available here).